I did some digging about the yo-yo thing. Apparently a US court ruled back in the '60s that the term had become genericized and was no longer a legally valid trademark, but that doesn't apply to Canada. I guess Nintendo either didn't realize that back in 1990 or just never sold the game outside of the US in particular until the Virtual Console happened.
I remember when I was five, I was hospitalized. I had strep throat, so I was given penicillin. What no one knew was that I was allergic to penicillin, so I got real sick and was in the hospital for a while until the doctors figured out I was allergic to the medicine. While I was In the children's ward, I remember playing _Startropics_ on the NES. Don't think I got past the first boss. Years later, I only had cloudy memories of the game, the title of which I couldn't remember. Then with the internet, I was able to rediscover this game.
I was born with conjoined fingers and had to have multiple skin graphs, so I have a lot of hospital gaming memories too! Notably, Snake Rattle & Roll and Donkey Kong Country 3. Hospitals loved Nintendo.
@@kingkenno8803 I never had anything like what you dealt with, but I had a really bad concussion as a kid, and the memories of spending a couple of days in the children's area of the hospital are some of my fondest. It was kind of like a magical place in some ways. So much so that it feels like I was there a lot longer than I really was.
Hearing your theme being a remix of this after all these years, and your background visuals also being partly from this game, is quite heartfelt. I've heard a bunch about this game, looks really neat.
The video game that makes you a gamer will always be a part of you. If it weren’t for Startropics he might not be who is today. Startropics is part is his brand because it’s a part of him, and I’m sure many gamers out here can relate to that in some way
@@foursidekm Exactly, never heard it before. Listening to the soundtrack right now though, it's cool. There also seem to be some Mother 1 connections, both in music style as well as plot and setting, I feel...
The biggest takeaway I got from this video is just the sheer unmistakable personality that StarTropics has. That trick with the letter is delightful and I love that they went through the trouble of simulating it for the Virtual Console release.
@@thewiseoldfox considering that internet use is so widespread nowadays i dont imagine anyone having trouble just looking it up on google. still absolutely disappointing on nintendo's part for think considering it
@@solidskullz5736 yeah it was wild stuff, one of the few times where video games made you break the 4th wall to progress like MGS1 with contacting Meryl to Soft Reseting your Genesis to clear a computer puzzle in that X-Men game, it's wild and I would regard the most memorable ways game wise to progress due to purely being an unconventional way to so, even more so to this day.
Only ten minutes in but my wish for the world is that every game can find a fan like you, that goes on to make a video love letter like this to it for the rest of us to watch.
So I finished watching the video and I just wanted to say, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being one of my favorite youtubers I’ve been watching for over half a decade now. This was probably my favorite review of a game you have ever done. The game is so goofily and wickedly awesome especially for its time, and your presentation of it really hit differently for me because of how much it meant to you. I could really feel how much of a calling this game was to you throughout the entirety of this video and it really warms my heart. I really resonate with the part about how you said that games can’t be / shouldn’t be for everyone, because recently I’ve felt that games have been so cookie-cutter that it’s hard for me to find something that really stands out as something truly different or brings you back to a different yet very powerful period of time. I feel the same way when it comes to being an artist since I’m always trying to replicate my imagination of what I want my piece to be like. What you said really gave me a boost of confidence that I need right now to be brave and go for stuff in my artwork that won’t please everyone but does please me greatly, and that’s really something that I appreciate because I’m in a really bad creative block right now. Finally, it never really occurred to me that you’ve been doing TH-cam for a decade now. I’m so proud of how much you came so far as a TH-camr. You really stand out a lot from other popular creators for your unique flair of presenting, hilarious humor, and incredible production value, all of which is done with your own style to it that I’ve been of a fan of for a very long time. Keep being rad, James! 🫶
I really resonate with your statement on how not all video games need to be for everyone, that there's worth in games that eschew standard video game conventions and that even if it doesn't end up being something with wider audience appeal, it can create experiences that can resonate far stronger with the people that end up enjoying it.~
@@XadePsyconic damn straight. in media in general, really. there's such an obsession with sandpapered lowest common denominator experiences that everyone will like but no one will love.
Nowadays it's kind of hard to do something like this. Videogames are so expensive to make and there's such a competitive market, so it feels like you need to appear to as many people as possible to survive.
Love how passionetly you talk about this game dude. Those games you play when you're young that other people don"t "get" so often hold the most sentimental value and I think that's incredibly special.
Dude, you're probably one of the only reviewers I know that manages to turn a review into such a personal thing, just hearing your story with it, your experience in details, what you remember from that time, it just makes it so more interesting and cozy to watch. Hecc, I would be lying if I said I didn't get emotional by the zooming out credits scene and then Mike with bananas in his ears transitioning to the poster on your wall, which I had zero idea was from Star Tropics to begin with awjdkaljwgklajwgklwawg I really wish other reviewers got to that of "intimacy" with their experiences with the things they are talking about. Never change that on you :)
StarTropics was also the first real game that captivated me as a kid. I was 5 when my mom brought this home. My aunt, who lived next door, liked it so much she also bought a copy. We would always be playing this game and eventually we got pretty close to beating it. I remember one day my aunt came running over to my house because she had finally cleared the game, left it on pause and came to get me so we could watch the ending together. Last year I pulled it up on the Switch over Christmas and both my mom and aunt just hung out all evening watching me beat it and reminiscing. It was a really great moment.
Startropics brings back great memories of grade 1. I had been homeschooled for kindergarten and was raised on an isolated hobby farm. It was my first real birthday party with a bunch of other kids, for the cool kid at school, and he just wanted to play Startropics while everyone watched and somehow it was the coolest thing for a 6 year old.
Dude, that intro transition was TIGHT. But, really, I love the revisit. This video is a great nostalgic time. I can still remember how hyped I was when you reached 100k and made that video about quitting your cashier job. Huge fan. Rock on.
Of all the NES games I’ve played Startropics is definitely one of the most satisfying ones. The gameplay and just the vibes of the game itself really click with me. One of my favorite things about is that it came with a physical version of the letter that Mike’s uncle sent, so when the game tells you to put the letter in water to reveal a message, you actually have to do it in real life. It seems like a simple thing now, but back then I bet it was mind blowing
How does me talking about things I like about the game mean I “didn’t watch the video”? What an odd thing to accuse someone of just for sharing their thoughts on something
James.....man.....you've done it again. You're one of the few that perfectly translates those feelings you get from games and then puts them into words. Thank you for what you do and happy 10 years man. I think I'm gonna go play my own "game that made me love games" now.
I'll always be thankful for the time Screwattack featured you on their website when they were still a thing, I probably never would have found this youtube channel, it's been one of my favorites ever since. Congrats on a decade on TH-cam!
Your thoughts on video games not being for everybody and those challenging, vague control schemes are emblematic with why I love the Lost Kingdoms games so much, especially the second one. I streamed it with my buddies a while ago and they always commented on the vague level design, the strange sense of progress and how to unlock things but...that's why I loved it, that's why I played it so damn much, there's so much to figure out, so much to browse, to explore and tinker with the world around you. Analysing situations, thinking carefully about what cards went into my deck rather then the standardized format of what was broken in modern games these days was what made that game skyrocket for me. I don't think I'd ever play StarTropics, but the way that game resounds to you speaks in concert to how wonderful of a videogame I think Lost Kingdoms II, games that are like a drug to very specific players. It's a beautiful thing, and how videogames should be made.
I actually played this for the first time a few years ago because of you. All of your branding and association with the game made me think it must have had a big impact on you, so I figured it was worth checking out. I ended up really liking it too, despite these kind of games not usually being my thing. Nice to hear more about your earlier years with it, and here's to many more years of Nitro Rad!
I love your April 1st videos. They're not jokes, they're the excuse to do the things most dear to your heart and I love it. I also had a game like this when growing up. Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. Except the Mystic Quest in the EU - which isn't the same as the MQ in America. I only knew tiny bits of the game, I couldn't even figure out how to save - so I didn't get past. I at one point sold it. I got 1€ for it online. My dad was proud of me and said "You earned your first Euro!" But I was mad at myself. I regret it to this day.
He used to do April Fools specials, but I completely understand why he might have abandoned them. They were probably very time-consuming to make and reaching out to guest stars probably took up a lot of development time.
My first introduction to gaming i remember is "Games For Windows 95". A sample CD on windows 95 that had a cool intro scene, you went around a spaceship to play demos of games known at the time, like Doom and Space Cadet. It was amazing!
Aw man, this sounds a lot like Castlevania 1- with how the limited movement is used in tandem with the design. I actually played it this year and loved that aspect of it, so I might just love Startropics too! Who knows
This might be your best video yet. I love your genuine, child-like enthusiasm about this niche little game. It's amazing seeing someone be so passionate about something they love, it's infectious.
StarTropics is my moms favorite game and I have played both of them so many times. They're so special to me and I wish they got more recognition, they certainlt deserve it.
Happy 10th Anniversary James! I didn't get to watch the video when it first dropped, but that's because I wanted to give it my undivided attention; and I'm glad I did! I only heard of StarTropics in passing on my time in the Gaming TH-cam sphere, so when I saw in your update video that you would be giving it a full rundown, I got super excited! That excitement was warranted too because this is a very special gem of a game, and it reminded me of when I first learned about Sly 1 (Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus) as a kid. It wasn't a game for everyone since it was kinda like Crash Bandicoot, but the platforming was smoother and tighter; centered around you truly feeling like a thief. It opened my eyes as a kid that videogames can be like the TV shows I like so much, like Batman and Danny Phantom for example, but I'm the one at the helm. You can experience something magical unlike any other form of media, and that's truly special. In a way, StarTropics also reminded me of MegaMan Battle Network because its niche is a 6x3 RPG with deck building elements via BattleChips, and there isn't a game like that anywhere else either. Yeah there are indie games that are inspired by it's combat system (which is great), but nothing is truly like Battle Network, just like there's nothing like Sly Cooper out there. Their art styles, gameplay, stories: they're really unique and I don't think I would've adored these series if they were like modern games (akin to what you brought up in your video). Thank you for sharing this wonderful little game and I think I'm going to try and play it! I'm not sure how good at it I'll be, but I genuinely want to give this game a shot because of it's story and gameplay. :D
WE LOVE TO SEE YOU RETURNING TO OLDER GAMES THAT YOU MADE VIDS ON EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! was very happy to see this thumbnail on my front page thank you very much mr.radical!!!
i wrote this comment before you mentioned its been 10 years since the original vid was released and idk that just feels so surreal to me. Hoping you can keep up your craft for many years to come!!!!
Even 30 years later, this game is actually really impressive for being on the NES, no matter how late to the party it is. Just the plot and environment feels like a late PS1-early PS2 game. The gameplay also is genuinely swell. I mostly play games for the gameplay and not usually the story, so I tend to write off most of the NES and SNES era as something I wouldn't be into. It says alot for me that even just the gameplay is one of the few times I've seen an 8/16 bit game and want to play it, even if it'd be without the hardware. It's another one of those times where I wish I could experience a game for the first time, at the time. Always been a fan of the channel even though I'm not a horror-type person. I've always enjoyed the way you view and breakdown games, it tends to align with what gets me interested about mechanics, along with not dumbing down the terminology being really appreciated from someone who's interested in the background of game development. Excited for more.
Nitro I just want to say you’re one of my favorite TH-camrs and I can’t wait till you get to my favorite non Mario 3D platformers the Tak and the Power of Juju trilogy! Tak 2 the Staff of Dreams is the best! The music is iconic!
It's kind of strange but I wish every game was deeply personal to your childhood like Adams Family or StarTropics because I absolutely love these videos where your pour your heart about about your personal experiences and give us all such a great taste of the journey, even down to hiding the final fantasy dialogue boxes in that one shot. The production quality of these videos is so insane and you've done incredibly well. Thanks so much James, here's to another 10 years!
Your content means a lot to me as my favorite gaming TH-camr and reviewer in general. You get to the heart of why a piece of media is interesting and how it makes you feel, rather than just talking about the game as a functional product. Congrats on coming so far, and here’s to the future!
Aww man I got the feeling of finishing a good show or movie with the banana painting reveal. I don't think I'd enjoy the game myself, but I'm glad you found it because your channel was how I discovered two of my favorite games of all time. Thanks for doing this all these years, you're still my favorite channel by miles!
Watching the beginning of the video reminded me of how much I love video games as a way to form memories and bonds. Hearing personal experiences from one another links us together, and we get a chance to learn more about not only each other but also new potential stories you can immerse yourself into. Even if it's to relive it a second or third time. Thank you for taking the time and energy to record yourself experiencing the game once again, I get so happy hearing you ramble or going on an unrelated tangent in your recent videos. It feels like I'm sitting next to you on the couch of the living room while you play and talk non-stop about what's on screen (mom's making oizza rolls). I can tell from the editing of these videos that you love what you do- going offscript, gushing about the smallest details, and speaking out your each and every thought! I know things have been difficult with TH-cam (when isn't it) But I hope this comment reaches you and it can remind you that your words, the money, and time you spent editing these videos matter SO much!! Thank you so so much for what you do! I always look forward to your videos, and I pray the algorithm gods can bless you with the views you deserve. TLDR: I love your work. Take your time, and don't be so hard on yourself. Good luck!
Right in the “feels” with this. Your recollection of what was for you, combined with a current playthrough that was both enjoyable and interesting to watch, really makes this video stand out to me. I enjoy tying video games to specific parts of my past, but to have the skill to do it like this? It’s really cool. Bravo.
I have to say, it's really surreal watching someone much younger than I basically have the same reaction and experience as I did. I'm so used to youtube reviewers snubbing the controls regardless if they liked the game or not. The controls are the point! Your rant at the end about games not needing to be for everyone, on the grounds that it stifles creativity in game design, really rang true for me. You may want to check out the Famicom game Meikyuu Jiin Dababa, which Star Tropics was heavily based off of.
Speaking as someone who suffered and laughed his way across Startropics years ago, it really is a one of a kind experience on the NES, and one I'll never forget.
This was a very wholesome episode. There's definitely something special about your very first video game. My first experience with video games was sonic the hedgehog back in the early 90s. might've been a toddler back then and had my ups and downs with the franchise over 30 years, but that personal experience with the game and sonic as a whole has been with me literally for the entirety of my life, and it's something i'll never lose
the game that was my startropics was one i had forgotten for decades until your channel helped me find it. it was a n64 game i played when i was around 6-8 years old and all i remembered was being a sheep, so i could only look things up relating to sheep. i genuinely couldn’t find it until you uploaded your space station silicone valley video and i was utterly stunned. THAT was the game i had been looking for after years of searching up n64 games about sheep!! it’s sweet to see a video from you that is similar to my experience when it was this channel that helped me reunite with a game i love
I used to play this game a lot as a kid too. I was never able to finish it. But I first played it at my uncle Mike's house. I would play it anytime I came over to his house. And eventually bought my own copy while it was on clearance at a toy store after the N64 had already been out. I was in middle school at that point and had found $40 randomly on the side of the road in an envelope while walking back from a friend's house. It was a busy road so we assume it had simply flown out of someone's car window. We split it in half an then walked to the local mall and I bought this thing thing because I had never been able to finish it an it was like $5. I'll never forget that. And that's when I got to finally sit down and beat the game during that summer all those years later.
I have to agree with you about controls being apart of the personality of the games. The controls are definitely apart of the game development process. It was awesome hearing your passion on the game. It reminds me why I went to school for animation and game development. Keep up the great work as always.
Commented just a little bit ago but ive got to say, what a beautiful love letter to this game. I probably wont play it because I get gamer rage pretty easily (peaceful farming/life sims im here to stay lol) but the passion you have for this title, as well as old platformers and indie games, is so contagious! You are a very gifted young man in the art of story telling. Every video you create is so engaging. Even an hour long video like this feels like maybe 30 minutes because you put so much in for viewers to look at, laugh at, and relate to. I hope to see many more videos from you! I look forward to each one!
I moved out on my own in early 1996. Got a job at a pawn shop. Those first few months were hard. I had nothing to my name except for my game systems (priorities!). Kay-Bee Toys were pushing out the last of their NES stuff for next to nothing at that time. I picked up StarTropics and Zoda's Revenge for 5 bucks each, and they, along with a copy of Phantasy Star I got at the pawn shop (played through my Power Base Converter), helped me get through those months on my own. I'll always love it for those memories. I may have had nothing, but I have never once felt more free, and I never will again.
The Final Fantasy anecdote is completely relatable because when I was about 4 or 5 we had Dragon Warrior (Quest) for the NES, and of course I could barely read so most of the gameplay was me wandering around, getting lost in the main castle, finding my way out and getting into 2 or 3 battles, and then die. I didn't really know how to read nor did I know I had to go to the next town over to buy weapons and armor. My dad tried to help, but he didn't know what to do either. Needless to say, it felt super rewarding that I would play and beat the game 20 years later for the Switch.
Just wanted to say I've been enjoying these longer videos this channel has been focusing more on for the past year and a half or so. A decade ago, most TH-camrs would give an NES game a sub-10 minute video. Your love and understanding of this game is very well communicated in this video.
I'm really glad I watched this one. Could feel the tone you were going for of how deeply this game impacted you. I think lots of us get that way with certain games from the past.
I loved this video, it really embodied that feeling of coming over to a friend's house and letting them gush about their favorite game and letting them sell you on it. I'm suddenly feeling very nostalgic for a game I've never played before. Thank you for all your hard work! I've loved your videos for idk how many years now, and you never disappoint! ❤
Funnily enough I remember exactly what my first exposure to videogames was, Mariokart 64. I was obsessed with racing games for years and was genuinely afraid of trying anything new and different until I hit like, 13 years and an uncle gave me Pokémon Stadium for christmas. It took me MONTHS before I finally dared to try the actual stadium stuff in that game, I was so scared I just dared to enter the minigame zone. (And on an unrelated note, I realized the concept of mortality while playing Diddy Kong Racing, years later.)
Hearing that intro, talking about the first games that made gaming a real thing for you, made me think about how it went for me. I remember being a little kid, probably only 4 or 5, watching my dad play Lego Star Wars 2 on his computer. To me that was crazy, I knew Lego, I knew Star Wars, but to have it be something I could be a part of was wild to me. I remember being 5, in kindergarten, getting a Wii, and even though it was 09 I had never seen anything about it, I was a little kid and my parents were smart and didn't let me on the internet unsupervised. I had an old PS1 when I was really little but nothing as crazy as the Wii. I remember playing Lego Star Wars on it after school with my mom, how epic it felt. It was the first time I saw a game that really had a story. After that I ended up playing a bunch of other Lego games, Lego Star Wars 3, the Lego Harry Potter games, and even after that other games that weren't Lego, Kirby's Epic Yarn stands out to me as one that I enjoyed but couldn't get very far in. The Wii as a whole was just something special to me. While we were a very tech-savvy family we never really got online, so I don't really have any nostalgia for the Wii shop or virtual console, but the games we played made my childhood.
"I wish I still had this" 46:47 Be careful what you wish for, ProJared said something similar, and wound up with 5+ copies from his fans. Might want to ask him for a copy!
I haven’t played it myself yet, but Startropics always makes me think of my little brother. I have the NES mini console, and I’ve enjoyed playing a lot of games on it (Mario 3 was my favorite). But my brother has always loved playing Startropics he requests it almost every time he plays NES. I don’t think he’s even beaten the first chapter yet, but I imagine he’s gonna grow up with a great fondness for this game just like James. And man! If he knew all these cool secrets about the game , he would love it even more! Thanks for sharing Nitro Rad, and thanks for 10 awesome years!
As a WR speedrunner for ST2 and a top 5 runner for ST1, i couldn't agree more. This is THE game that made me love video games. Sure, I played Mario first but this game was the first game that truly challenged me and introduced me to how gripping and complex the media can be. Startropics 2 was the first game i asked for my parents to get me on launch day. I love it so much i found a reliable way to have the final boss spawn mostly heads and not hands lmao
You have converted another into a Startropics enjoyer. Happy 10! DQMJ was The Game for me. Love it so, so much. I also played it for the first time when I was like five. Now imagine a sequel being released to it 25 years ago and it sucking the most balls a game possibly could :DD.
Watching this video and hearing him talk about his history with StarTropics reminded me that Nitrorad helped unite me with my own White Whale of a game. I remember having really faint but vivid memories of the original Psychonauts, but I was never able to place a name until seeing the video he made on it; It came out during a really turbulent time in my life, but I was so excited to finally find it and give it a try for myself. It was something to look forward to. Now I have such fond memories of playing Psychonauts late into the night, it gave me a well needed break from reality that I'll always be grateful for. It and its sequel are my favourite games of all time and I'm so thankful for you reuniting me with the series. Sorry about the long tangenty comment- but here's to video games that make us love video games! And if Nitrorad ever sees this, thank you.
Your passion shines through in this video and helped turn it into one of your very best. I've never even thought twice about this game until now! What a wild ride!
This was legit my first game I fell I love with as well!! I remember having to solve the code puzzle by submersing the letter that comes with the game cartridge in water. The overworld music has stuck with me to this day. It’s awesome. Love this! One of these days I’ll actually go back and beat this game. 😂
This is why I love your channel, you're so enthusiastic about everything. I'm glad you didn't keep the angry gamer persona from your early days cuz your enthusiasm for games like startropics makes me really happy to see, love ya friend ❤
Your monologue at the end about a game not needing to be for everyone is precisely why I want a Kid Icarus Uprising sequel designed for the console it releases on instead of a port like everyone moronically begs for. I've replayed that game every year since it released and its controls and 3D presentation are a huge part of that. My favorite game of all time.
Oh! I had the Game Atlas too, it kept me company on one of the most uneventful family road trips of my childhood. The StarTropics section was incredible for this, getting to visualize the journey you take as you travel through the game. ...I just realized it's over 30 years later and I still haven't actually played past chapter 3? I've gotta fix this!
It's crazy to think you've been at this for a whole decade. I remember one of the first videos from you I saw was your Sonic Forces video (which I did a rewatch for the sake of this comment) and off the bat it gave me a totally different vibe from any other channel I had watched before. The lens and presentation at which you approached the game was (if a little fast back then [which does kinda fit for that specific video lol]) an interesting change of pace that I found myself invested in and staying for, and not just for the fact that it stood out amongst all the Forces discourse happening then. You had this mix of casual conversation, curiosity, open-mindedness and analysis that's only grown and become more nuanced since. For me, it's gotten to a point where every video you upload is like an event. I always look forward to seeing what you have to say about a game, especially the how and the why as well as what I could grasp from it to better my understanding of that particular game's mechaniations and/or those of other games and the medium as a whole. Whatever it may be, large or small, I tend to take SOMETHING away from your videos that leaves me inspired, thinking a little differently or both. I doubt that'll change any time soon and the heart and soul poured into this video is evidence of that. Happy 10th Anniversary, James Nitro Rad!
That mindset you had there over the end of the video should really be shared by more people. Pretty sure if I had that game between my hand, I'd bust my head on it a lot until I find out what needs to be done. Thank you for sharing this great life experience of yours with us.
This was a really incredible video, James. I always knew your logo and intro came from this game, and I saw your original video years ago, but this one was really special. I could really feel your love for the game and your way of telling the story and discussing the game really made me come to love Startropics than I already did. I always loved the aesthetic, but I’d never got round to playing it via emulation, and as a kid I only ever had one Virtual Console game. I really feel like getting a copy for myself now, since I got a Famicom for myself last year, even with the expensive import fees. It was really great to see your thoughts and feelings about Startropics, and I’d love to see more long videos like this. I’ve never had an emotional story about the first game I really played or anything, because of the era of gaming I grew up on, but stories like this really make me understand the magic of that and wish I’d had an experience quite like it.
This game has always been one of my favourites on the NES, and for the same reasons you discuss throughout. It truly feels like it’s in a different league than other games of the time, which makes it super memorable. (Monster Party and A Boy and His Blob also come to mind.) I appreciate all your hard work in making this video. It’s always nice to hear engaging stories like these, proving games are a medium like no other.
There's definitely a class of games that are difficult to get into, unwieldy even at times, but if you have the patience to stick with you'll appreciate far more than game design conventions might say you should. I think most of us have clunky or unforgiving games that we played as kids that we love deeply even though they're "bad" or "outdated". We stuck with them, learned through trial and (repeated) error because we were young. We didn't know what was "good" or "bad", we were just happy to be playing something. Then we get older and wiser, but we lose some of that patience and wonder. I bet a ton of people woulda loved Startropics if they had it growing up, but wouldn't give it much time or energy as an adult. Heck, I only played it once on Switch Online and beat it, but with use of save states. I could see my appreciation for this title growing if I gave it another run every now and then. And there's plenty of others. I really want to love Super Metroid, but I haven't played it enough for the controls to really feel natural. It's for sure one of the best games of all time, but I haven't invested enough in it for it to be that level of quality to me. I love hearing about the weird games that people love, they're always way more interesting than the stuff that's built to be an 8/10 for literally everyone.
I love the frantic google searching not knowing what the game was, because this was me with Harley's Humungous Adventure, a game I only rented once for SNES but remembered so distinctly.
For me that game was also the first video game I ever played and it’s shaped my taste in games to this day. It was Tales of Symphonia for the gamecube and all these years later it’s still my favorite game of all time.
13:57 Because none of the most liked comments seem to mention it, it's been said (dunno if officially or just been theorized) that the black filter was applied to VC games on Wii (and Wii U) as an anti-seizures thing due to these games being made before seizure concerns were taken seriously and thus several games had flashing screens and such.
I've watched this video a couple of times now. It's always so cool to see people sharing special games that mean so much to them, especially for a game as interesting as this one! Awesome video as always Nitro Rad! Thank you for sharing a game that means so much to you
StarTropics was a childhood favorite of mine and I also had to replay it in my adulthood in order to finally complete the game. I loved how there was no other game like it. The odd movement, the story pushing you ahead, the delightful music, the rpg elements... I even remember when Nintendo Power made a short comic about it!
I played this game with Nintendo Switch Online and got stuck at the graveyard dungeon. Now that you taught me about the controls and a few tricks about the game I'm stopping around 28:09 to see if I can beat it myself... Thanks a ton.
This quickly became my be Nitro Rad's favorite vídeo, so much love was put into it that it's transparent how he's happy with what he's doing 💜 Good to see that after he looked so down and worried in the last update video
LOVED this video!! I love how sentimental you are about this game, I adore hearing how special media like this can be to people. Also the letter you have to put in water is actually the coolest thing. Blew my mind.
This is a super heartwarming video for me. I know exactly what my first game was, and it's Pokemon Yellow. I booted up my older brother's save in Lavender Town, and had the exact same reaction of "HEY, I can move a little guy with a cool hat!" But I never got anywhere with it. Even after I deleted his save and started over (he didn't care, he had already beaten it twice), I couldn't make it anywhere, but the first 3 towns are burned into my mind. Nowadays, it's hard to go back to because there's sequels and remakes that are just... better. The only instance where Gen 1 feels worth going back to is in competitive play, which I don't do much. But StarTropics is so unique that it could never be replaced. There is no "better version" (I literally hadn't heard of the sequel until this video), and no one has attempted it again since, so it will always be important. I popped off so hard when I saw the title screen and realizing it's the same as your intro! It all made sense, especially because I was confused when in a previous video, you mentioned being from Nova Scotia, where the whole "palm tree tropical beach" thing didn't seem common. IT ALL COMES TOGETHER. Here's to more Nitro Rad!
I still remember 10 years ago when I randomly decided to search for videos about one of my favorite games of all time and seeing your video which was posted just 2 weeks prior. It was great to find someone who was seemingly as obsessed about the game as me so your channel just clicked with me almost immediately and I've loved your videos since. And it's lead me to find out about so many other platformers and horror games that I'm now a fan of. Here's hoping for many more years of great quality videos like these that you seem to love making. Edit: sonuvabitch i wrote this on april fools day on accident
i kinda never comment on youtube but after almost four years of not watching your channel ive become OBSESSED with your videos again. just the love and care you put into your videos and how passionately you talk about video games makes me appreciate games in general a lot more and just how cool they are. the way you go into detail for every game and how you speak with so much love for video games idk its just so cool
I did some digging about the yo-yo thing. Apparently a US court ruled back in the '60s that the term had become genericized and was no longer a legally valid trademark, but that doesn't apply to Canada. I guess Nintendo either didn't realize that back in 1990 or just never sold the game outside of the US in particular until the Virtual Console happened.
I got it and I'm Canadian. Pretty sure it was for sale in our local Wal Mart.
I remember when I was five, I was hospitalized. I had strep throat, so I was given penicillin. What no one knew was that I was allergic to penicillin, so I got real sick and was in the hospital for a while until the doctors figured out I was allergic to the medicine. While I was In the children's ward, I remember playing _Startropics_ on the NES. Don't think I got past the first boss. Years later, I only had cloudy memories of the game, the title of which I couldn't remember. Then with the internet, I was able to rediscover this game.
I was born with conjoined fingers and had to have multiple skin graphs, so I have a lot of hospital gaming memories too! Notably, Snake Rattle & Roll and Donkey Kong Country 3. Hospitals loved Nintendo.
@@kingkenno8803 I never had anything like what you dealt with, but I had a really bad concussion as a kid, and the memories of spending a couple of days in the children's area of the hospital are some of my fondest. It was kind of like a magical place in some ways. So much so that it feels like I was there a lot longer than I really was.
The start revealing the nitro rad intro is from star tropics all along is mind blowing
Really?
@@ittylink nope, he has a motive. A dark, shadowy, motive for deceiving you.
I always knew that lol
@@Evilakuuuuu I never played Startropics and I still somehow knew. Wht.
Unless you watched his first Startropics video
He did it, He finally played the (nitro) raddest game of em all. .
heck yes!!!
Dammit, take my like
Hearing your theme being a remix of this after all these years, and your background visuals also being partly from this game, is quite heartfelt. I've heard a bunch about this game, looks really neat.
The video game that makes you a gamer will always be a part of you. If it weren’t for Startropics he might not be who is today. Startropics is part is his brand because it’s a part of him, and I’m sure many gamers out here can relate to that in some way
No offense, but how can you not recognize that they're the same song? It wasn't changed too much.
@@ninjaguyYTthey probably just never heard the song before. Startropics isn't like super huge
@@foursidekm Exactly, never heard it before. Listening to the soundtrack right now though, it's cool. There also seem to be some Mother 1 connections, both in music style as well as plot and setting, I feel...
@@sweetwheatsy yeah I've heard people compare the game to earthbound
The biggest takeaway I got from this video is just the sheer unmistakable personality that StarTropics has. That trick with the letter is delightful and I love that they went through the trouble of simulating it for the Virtual Console release.
F in the chat for those who want to play this game, only have access to the NSO version, and want to play the game without a guide.
If I was a kid in those days and had a copy with the letter, my mind would’ve been blown when I used it to unlock a new part of the game
@@thewiseoldfox considering that internet use is so widespread nowadays i dont imagine anyone having trouble just looking it up on google. still absolutely disappointing on nintendo's part for think considering it
@@solidskullz5736 yeah it was wild stuff, one of the few times where video games made you break the 4th wall to progress like MGS1 with contacting Meryl to Soft Reseting your Genesis to clear a computer puzzle in that X-Men game, it's wild and I would regard the most memorable ways game wise to progress due to purely being an unconventional way to so, even more so to this day.
Only ten minutes in but my wish for the world is that every game can find a fan like you, that goes on to make a video love letter like this to it for the rest of us to watch.
Even Bubsy 3D?
@@lucascouto166There's someone out there...
@@lucascouto166yes.
@@KOTEBANAROTWhat about Custer’s Revenge?
@@yone5499 yes
So I finished watching the video and I just wanted to say, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being one of my favorite youtubers I’ve been watching for over half a decade now.
This was probably my favorite review of a game you have ever done. The game is so goofily and wickedly awesome especially for its time, and your presentation of it really hit differently for me because of how much it meant to you. I could really feel how much of a calling this game was to you throughout the entirety of this video and it really warms my heart.
I really resonate with the part about how you said that games can’t be / shouldn’t be for everyone, because recently I’ve felt that games have been so cookie-cutter that it’s hard for me to find something that really stands out as something truly different or brings you back to a different yet very powerful period of time.
I feel the same way when it comes to being an artist since I’m always trying to replicate my imagination of what I want my piece to be like. What you said really gave me a boost of confidence that I need right now to be brave and go for stuff in my artwork that won’t please everyone but does please me greatly, and that’s really something that I appreciate because I’m in a really bad creative block right now.
Finally, it never really occurred to me that you’ve been doing TH-cam for a decade now. I’m so proud of how much you came so far as a TH-camr. You really stand out a lot from other popular creators for your unique flair of presenting, hilarious humor, and incredible production value, all of which is done with your own style to it that I’ve been of a fan of for a very long time.
Keep being rad, James! 🫶
I really resonate with your statement on how not all video games need to be for everyone, that there's worth in games that eschew standard video game conventions and that even if it doesn't end up being something with wider audience appeal, it can create experiences that can resonate far stronger with the people that end up enjoying it.~
Agreed. Bold decisions and sticking to your vision are both things we really need more of in video games nowadays.
@@XadePsyconic damn straight. in media in general, really. there's such an obsession with sandpapered lowest common denominator experiences that everyone will like but no one will love.
Nowadays it's kind of hard to do something like this. Videogames are so expensive to make and there's such a competitive market, so it feels like you need to appear to as many people as possible to survive.
the way it does camera zoom outs is so ambitious for the NES. this game has oodles of charm
Love how passionetly you talk about this game dude.
Those games you play when you're young that other people don"t "get" so often hold the most sentimental value and I think that's incredibly special.
Dude, you're probably one of the only reviewers I know that manages to turn a review into such a personal thing, just hearing your story with it, your experience in details, what you remember from that time, it just makes it so more interesting and cozy to watch.
Hecc, I would be lying if I said I didn't get emotional by the zooming out credits scene and then Mike with bananas in his ears transitioning to the poster on your wall, which I had zero idea was from Star Tropics to begin with awjdkaljwgklajwgklwawg
I really wish other reviewers got to that of "intimacy" with their experiences with the things they are talking about. Never change that on you :)
There's the title! Hell yeah, baby
dangerously based adell pfp
StarTropics was also the first real game that captivated me as a kid. I was 5 when my mom brought this home. My aunt, who lived next door, liked it so much she also bought a copy. We would always be playing this game and eventually we got pretty close to beating it. I remember one day my aunt came running over to my house because she had finally cleared the game, left it on pause and came to get me so we could watch the ending together. Last year I pulled it up on the Switch over Christmas and both my mom and aunt just hung out all evening watching me beat it and reminiscing. It was a really great moment.
That's awesome
I wish I had a mom or aunt as cool as yours 😢
Startropics brings back great memories of grade 1. I had been homeschooled for kindergarten and was raised on an isolated hobby farm. It was my first real birthday party with a bunch of other kids, for the cool kid at school, and he just wanted to play Startropics while everyone watched and somehow it was the coolest thing for a 6 year old.
Dude, that intro transition was TIGHT.
But, really, I love the revisit. This video is a great nostalgic time. I can still remember how hyped I was when you reached 100k and made that video about quitting your cashier job. Huge fan. Rock on.
Of all the NES games I’ve played Startropics is definitely one of the most satisfying ones. The gameplay and just the vibes of the game itself really click with me. One of my favorite things about is that it came with a physical version of the letter that Mike’s uncle sent, so when the game tells you to put the letter in water to reveal a message, you actually have to do it in real life. It seems like a simple thing now, but back then I bet it was mind blowing
We can tell you didn't watch the video lol
pls watch videos you comment on
How does me talking about things I like about the game mean I “didn’t watch the video”? What an odd thing to accuse someone of just for sharing their thoughts on something
James.....man.....you've done it again. You're one of the few that perfectly translates those feelings you get from games and then puts them into words. Thank you for what you do and happy 10 years man. I think I'm gonna go play my own "game that made me love games" now.
I'll always be thankful for the time Screwattack featured you on their website when they were still a thing, I probably never would have found this youtube channel, it's been one of my favorites ever since. Congrats on a decade on TH-cam!
I loved how you portrayed not being able to read by making some of the letters gibberish. That's serious commitment!
Your thoughts on video games not being for everybody and those challenging, vague control schemes are emblematic with why I love the Lost Kingdoms games so much, especially the second one. I streamed it with my buddies a while ago and they always commented on the vague level design, the strange sense of progress and how to unlock things but...that's why I loved it, that's why I played it so damn much, there's so much to figure out, so much to browse, to explore and tinker with the world around you.
Analysing situations, thinking carefully about what cards went into my deck rather then the standardized format of what was broken in modern games these days was what made that game skyrocket for me.
I don't think I'd ever play StarTropics, but the way that game resounds to you speaks in concert to how wonderful of a videogame I think Lost Kingdoms II, games that are like a drug to very specific players. It's a beautiful thing, and how videogames should be made.
I actually played this for the first time a few years ago because of you.
All of your branding and association with the game made me think it must have had a big impact on you, so I figured it was worth checking out.
I ended up really liking it too, despite these kind of games not usually being my thing.
Nice to hear more about your earlier years with it, and here's to many more years of Nitro Rad!
I love your April 1st videos. They're not jokes, they're the excuse to do the things most dear to your heart and I love it.
I also had a game like this when growing up. Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. Except the Mystic Quest in the EU - which isn't the same as the MQ in America. I only knew tiny bits of the game, I couldn't even figure out how to save - so I didn't get past. I at one point sold it. I got 1€ for it online. My dad was proud of me and said "You earned your first Euro!" But I was mad at myself. I regret it to this day.
He used to do April Fools specials, but I completely understand why he might have abandoned them. They were probably very time-consuming to make and reaching out to guest stars probably took up a lot of development time.
My first introduction to gaming i remember is "Games For Windows 95". A sample CD on windows 95 that had a cool intro scene, you went around a spaceship to play demos of games known at the time, like Doom and Space Cadet. It was amazing!
Nitro rad is really proving he’s the number 1 Star tropics fan 😁👌
It's really nice to listen to someone completely gush about their favorite game, detailing every little intricacy about it.
Aw man, this sounds a lot like Castlevania 1- with how the limited movement is used in tandem with the design. I actually played it this year and loved that aspect of it, so I might just love Startropics too! Who knows
This might be your best video yet. I love your genuine, child-like enthusiasm about this niche little game. It's amazing seeing someone be so passionate about something they love, it's infectious.
StarTropics is my moms favorite game and I have played both of them so many times. They're so special to me and I wish they got more recognition, they certainlt deserve it.
Happy 10th Anniversary James! I didn't get to watch the video when it first dropped, but that's because I wanted to give it my undivided attention; and I'm glad I did! I only heard of StarTropics in passing on my time in the Gaming TH-cam sphere, so when I saw in your update video that you would be giving it a full rundown, I got super excited! That excitement was warranted too because this is a very special gem of a game, and it reminded me of when I first learned about Sly 1 (Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus) as a kid.
It wasn't a game for everyone since it was kinda like Crash Bandicoot, but the platforming was smoother and tighter; centered around you truly feeling like a thief. It opened my eyes as a kid that videogames can be like the TV shows I like so much, like Batman and Danny Phantom for example, but I'm the one at the helm. You can experience something magical unlike any other form of media, and that's truly special.
In a way, StarTropics also reminded me of MegaMan Battle Network because its niche is a 6x3 RPG with deck building elements via BattleChips, and there isn't a game like that anywhere else either. Yeah there are indie games that are inspired by it's combat system (which is great), but nothing is truly like Battle Network, just like there's nothing like Sly Cooper out there. Their art styles, gameplay, stories: they're really unique and I don't think I would've adored these series if they were like modern games (akin to what you brought up in your video). Thank you for sharing this wonderful little game and I think I'm going to try and play it! I'm not sure how good at it I'll be, but I genuinely want to give this game a shot because of it's story and gameplay. :D
WE LOVE TO SEE YOU RETURNING TO OLDER GAMES THAT YOU MADE VIDS ON EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! was very happy to see this thumbnail on my front page thank you very much mr.radical!!!
i wrote this comment before you mentioned its been 10 years since the original vid was released and idk that just feels so surreal to me. Hoping you can keep up your craft for many years to come!!!!
Even 30 years later, this game is actually really impressive for being on the NES, no matter how late to the party it is. Just the plot and environment feels like a late PS1-early PS2 game. The gameplay also is genuinely swell. I mostly play games for the gameplay and not usually the story, so I tend to write off most of the NES and SNES era as something I wouldn't be into. It says alot for me that even just the gameplay is one of the few times I've seen an 8/16 bit game and want to play it, even if it'd be without the hardware. It's another one of those times where I wish I could experience a game for the first time, at the time.
Always been a fan of the channel even though I'm not a horror-type person. I've always enjoyed the way you view and breakdown games, it tends to align with what gets me interested about mechanics, along with not dumbing down the terminology being really appreciated from someone who's interested in the background of game development. Excited for more.
Nitro I just want to say you’re one of my favorite TH-camrs and I can’t wait till you get to my favorite non Mario 3D platformers the Tak and the Power of Juju trilogy! Tak 2 the Staff of Dreams is the best! The music is iconic!
It's kind of strange but I wish every game was deeply personal to your childhood like Adams Family or StarTropics because I absolutely love these videos where your pour your heart about about your personal experiences and give us all such a great taste of the journey, even down to hiding the final fantasy dialogue boxes in that one shot. The production quality of these videos is so insane and you've done incredibly well. Thanks so much James, here's to another 10 years!
Your content means a lot to me as my favorite gaming TH-camr and reviewer in general. You get to the heart of why a piece of media is interesting and how it makes you feel, rather than just talking about the game as a functional product. Congrats on coming so far, and here’s to the future!
Aww man I got the feeling of finishing a good show or movie with the banana painting reveal. I don't think I'd enjoy the game myself, but I'm glad you found it because your channel was how I discovered two of my favorite games of all time. Thanks for doing this all these years, you're still my favorite channel by miles!
This was such a fun watch, and it's easy to see how enthusiastic you are about it. Thank you for sharing your love of the game with us!
Watching the beginning of the video reminded me of how much I love video games as a way to form memories and bonds. Hearing personal experiences from one another links us together, and we get a chance to learn more about not only each other but also new potential stories you can immerse yourself into. Even if it's to relive it a second or third time.
Thank you for taking the time and energy to record yourself experiencing the game once again, I get so happy hearing you ramble or going on an unrelated tangent in your recent videos. It feels like I'm sitting next to you on the couch of the living room while you play and talk non-stop about what's on screen (mom's making oizza rolls).
I can tell from the editing of these videos that you love what you do- going offscript, gushing about the smallest details, and speaking out your each and every thought!
I know things have been difficult with TH-cam (when isn't it) But I hope this comment reaches you and it can remind you that your words, the money, and time you spent editing these videos matter SO much!! Thank you so so much for what you do! I always look forward to your videos, and I pray the algorithm gods can bless you with the views you deserve.
TLDR: I love your work. Take your time, and don't be so hard on yourself. Good luck!
Right in the “feels” with this. Your recollection of what was for you, combined with a current playthrough that was both enjoyable and interesting to watch, really makes this video stand out to me.
I enjoy tying video games to specific parts of my past, but to have the skill to do it like this? It’s really cool. Bravo.
I have to say, it's really surreal watching someone much younger than I basically have the same reaction and experience as I did. I'm so used to youtube reviewers snubbing the controls regardless if they liked the game or not. The controls are the point! Your rant at the end about games not needing to be for everyone, on the grounds that it stifles creativity in game design, really rang true for me.
You may want to check out the Famicom game Meikyuu Jiin Dababa, which Star Tropics was heavily based off of.
I was literally wonder where your intro song came from. Then I heard it continue into the video. Felt like magic, man. 10/10.
Speaking as someone who suffered and laughed his way across Startropics years ago, it really is a one of a kind experience on the NES, and one I'll never forget.
This was a very wholesome episode. There's definitely something special about your very first video game. My first experience with video games was sonic the hedgehog back in the early 90s. might've been a toddler back then and had my ups and downs with the franchise over 30 years, but that personal experience with the game and sonic as a whole has been with me literally for the entirety of my life, and it's something i'll never lose
the game that was my startropics was one i had forgotten for decades until your channel helped me find it. it was a n64 game i played when i was around 6-8 years old and all i remembered was being a sheep, so i could only look things up relating to sheep. i genuinely couldn’t find it until you uploaded your space station silicone valley video and i was utterly stunned. THAT was the game i had been looking for after years of searching up n64 games about sheep!! it’s sweet to see a video from you that is similar to my experience when it was this channel that helped me reunite with a game i love
I love the videos when James gets all introspective and revisits a game he loves. Been looking forward to this one since the update video!
Good stuff, as others have said your love for the game really shined through in this one
He did it, He finally played the (nitro) raddest game of all time. 😁
I used to play this game a lot as a kid too. I was never able to finish it. But I first played it at my uncle Mike's house. I would play it anytime I came over to his house. And eventually bought my own copy while it was on clearance at a toy store after the N64 had already been out. I was in middle school at that point and had found $40 randomly on the side of the road in an envelope while walking back from a friend's house. It was a busy road so we assume it had simply flown out of someone's car window. We split it in half an then walked to the local mall and I bought this thing thing because I had never been able to finish it an it was like $5.
I'll never forget that. And that's when I got to finally sit down and beat the game during that summer all those years later.
I have to agree with you about controls being apart of the personality of the games. The controls are definitely apart of the game development process. It was awesome hearing your passion on the game. It reminds me why I went to school for animation and game development.
Keep up the great work as always.
Commented just a little bit ago but ive got to say, what a beautiful love letter to this game. I probably wont play it because I get gamer rage pretty easily (peaceful farming/life sims im here to stay lol) but the passion you have for this title, as well as old platformers and indie games, is so contagious! You are a very gifted young man in the art of story telling. Every video you create is so engaging. Even an hour long video like this feels like maybe 30 minutes because you put so much in for viewers to look at, laugh at, and relate to. I hope to see many more videos from you! I look forward to each one!
I moved out on my own in early 1996. Got a job at a pawn shop. Those first few months were hard. I had nothing to my name except for my game systems (priorities!). Kay-Bee Toys were pushing out the last of their NES stuff for next to nothing at that time. I picked up StarTropics and Zoda's Revenge for 5 bucks each, and they, along with a copy of Phantasy Star I got at the pawn shop (played through my Power Base Converter), helped me get through those months on my own. I'll always love it for those memories. I may have had nothing, but I have never once felt more free, and I never will again.
I just wanna say I really appreciate the effort that goes into the little sight gags. I’m so glad you got the Final Fantsy gibberish to look good.
The Final Fantasy anecdote is completely relatable because when I was about 4 or 5 we had Dragon Warrior (Quest) for the NES, and of course I could barely read so most of the gameplay was me wandering around, getting lost in the main castle, finding my way out and getting into 2 or 3 battles, and then die. I didn't really know how to read nor did I know I had to go to the next town over to buy weapons and armor. My dad tried to help, but he didn't know what to do either.
Needless to say, it felt super rewarding that I would play and beat the game 20 years later for the Switch.
Just wanted to say I've been enjoying these longer videos this channel has been focusing more on for the past year and a half or so. A decade ago, most TH-camrs would give an NES game a sub-10 minute video. Your love and understanding of this game is very well communicated in this video.
I'm really glad I watched this one. Could feel the tone you were going for of how deeply this game impacted you. I think lots of us get that way with certain games from the past.
I loved this video, it really embodied that feeling of coming over to a friend's house and letting them gush about their favorite game and letting them sell you on it. I'm suddenly feeling very nostalgic for a game I've never played before. Thank you for all your hard work! I've loved your videos for idk how many years now, and you never disappoint! ❤
Funnily enough I remember exactly what my first exposure to videogames was, Mariokart 64. I was obsessed with racing games for years and was genuinely afraid of trying anything new and different until I hit like, 13 years and an uncle gave me Pokémon Stadium for christmas. It took me MONTHS before I finally dared to try the actual stadium stuff in that game, I was so scared I just dared to enter the minigame zone.
(And on an unrelated note, I realized the concept of mortality while playing Diddy Kong Racing, years later.)
Hearing that intro, talking about the first games that made gaming a real thing for you, made me think about how it went for me.
I remember being a little kid, probably only 4 or 5, watching my dad play Lego Star Wars 2 on his computer. To me that was crazy, I knew Lego, I knew Star Wars, but to have it be something I could be a part of was wild to me. I remember being 5, in kindergarten, getting a Wii, and even though it was 09 I had never seen anything about it, I was a little kid and my parents were smart and didn't let me on the internet unsupervised. I had an old PS1 when I was really little but nothing as crazy as the Wii. I remember playing Lego Star Wars on it after school with my mom, how epic it felt. It was the first time I saw a game that really had a story. After that I ended up playing a bunch of other Lego games, Lego Star Wars 3, the Lego Harry Potter games, and even after that other games that weren't Lego, Kirby's Epic Yarn stands out to me as one that I enjoyed but couldn't get very far in. The Wii as a whole was just something special to me. While we were a very tech-savvy family we never really got online, so I don't really have any nostalgia for the Wii shop or virtual console, but the games we played made my childhood.
"I wish I still had this" 46:47
Be careful what you wish for, ProJared said something similar, and wound up with 5+ copies from his fans. Might want to ask him for a copy!
I haven’t played it myself yet, but Startropics always makes me think of my little brother. I have the NES mini console, and I’ve enjoyed playing a lot of games on it (Mario 3 was my favorite). But my brother has always loved playing Startropics he requests it almost every time he plays NES. I don’t think he’s even beaten the first chapter yet, but I imagine he’s gonna grow up with a great fondness for this game just like James. And man! If he knew all these cool secrets about the game , he would love it even more!
Thanks for sharing Nitro Rad, and thanks for 10 awesome years!
Final Fantasy back in the 80s was the driving reason I learned to read before 1st grade. I just NEEDED to play it, and had to understand it.
As a WR speedrunner for ST2 and a top 5 runner for ST1, i couldn't agree more. This is THE game that made me love video games. Sure, I played Mario first but this game was the first game that truly challenged me and introduced me to how gripping and complex the media can be. Startropics 2 was the first game i asked for my parents to get me on launch day. I love it so much i found a reliable way to have the final boss spawn mostly heads and not hands lmao
Was just thinking about this one from the update video! Time to sit back, relax and watch James do his thing.
This feels like a special one. : )
You have converted another into a Startropics enjoyer. Happy 10!
DQMJ was The Game for me. Love it so, so much. I also played it for the first time when I was like five.
Now imagine a sequel being released to it 25 years ago and it sucking the most balls a game possibly could :DD.
Watching this video and hearing him talk about his history with StarTropics reminded me that Nitrorad helped unite me with my own White Whale of a game.
I remember having really faint but vivid memories of the original Psychonauts, but I was never able to place a name until seeing the video he made on it;
It came out during a really turbulent time in my life, but I was so excited to finally find it and give it a try for myself. It was something to look forward to.
Now I have such fond memories of playing Psychonauts late into the night, it gave me a well needed break from reality that I'll always be grateful for. It and its sequel are my favourite games of all time and I'm so thankful for you reuniting me with the series.
Sorry about the long tangenty comment- but here's to video games that make us love video games!
And if Nitrorad ever sees this, thank you.
Your passion shines through in this video and helped turn it into one of your very best. I've never even thought twice about this game until now! What a wild ride!
This was such a Radicola video
This was legit my first game I fell I love with as well!! I remember having to solve the code puzzle by submersing the letter that comes with the game cartridge in water. The overworld music has stuck with me to this day. It’s awesome. Love this! One of these days I’ll actually go back and beat this game. 😂
This is why I love your channel, you're so enthusiastic about everything. I'm glad you didn't keep the angry gamer persona from your early days cuz your enthusiasm for games like startropics makes me really happy to see, love ya friend ❤
I didn't discover your channel too long ago but I'm glad I did. Will be looking forward to more videos !!
this video feels warm. like when id touch the screen of an old tv and feel its fur.
Your monologue at the end about a game not needing to be for everyone is precisely why I want a Kid Icarus Uprising sequel designed for the console it releases on instead of a port like everyone moronically begs for. I've replayed that game every year since it released and its controls and 3D presentation are a huge part of that. My favorite game of all time.
Mike Jones for Smash.
Games like this are so beautiful. They're more like an experience, than something trying to fit into a particular genre or popular niche.
Oh! I had the Game Atlas too, it kept me company on one of the most uneventful family road trips of my childhood. The StarTropics section was incredible for this, getting to visualize the journey you take as you travel through the game.
...I just realized it's over 30 years later and I still haven't actually played past chapter 3? I've gotta fix this!
It's crazy to think you've been at this for a whole decade. I remember one of the first videos from you I saw was your Sonic Forces video (which I did a rewatch for the sake of this comment) and off the bat it gave me a totally different vibe from any other channel I had watched before. The lens and presentation at which you approached the game was (if a little fast back then [which does kinda fit for that specific video lol]) an interesting change of pace that I found myself invested in and staying for, and not just for the fact that it stood out amongst all the Forces discourse happening then.
You had this mix of casual conversation, curiosity, open-mindedness and analysis that's only grown and become more nuanced since. For me, it's gotten to a point where every video you upload is like an event. I always look forward to seeing what you have to say about a game, especially the how and the why as well as what I could grasp from it to better my understanding of that particular game's mechaniations and/or those of other games and the medium as a whole.
Whatever it may be, large or small, I tend to take SOMETHING away from your videos that leaves me inspired, thinking a little differently or both. I doubt that'll change any time soon and the heart and soul poured into this video is evidence of that. Happy 10th Anniversary, James Nitro Rad!
That mindset you had there over the end of the video should really be shared by more people. Pretty sure if I had that game between my hand, I'd bust my head on it a lot until I find out what needs to be done. Thank you for sharing this great life experience of yours with us.
This was a really incredible video, James. I always knew your logo and intro came from this game, and I saw your original video years ago, but this one was really special.
I could really feel your love for the game and your way of telling the story and discussing the game really made me come to love Startropics than I already did. I always loved the aesthetic, but I’d never got round to playing it via emulation, and as a kid I only ever had one Virtual Console game. I really feel like getting a copy for myself now, since I got a Famicom for myself last year, even with the expensive import fees.
It was really great to see your thoughts and feelings about Startropics, and I’d love to see more long videos like this. I’ve never had an emotional story about the first game I really played or anything, because of the era of gaming I grew up on, but stories like this really make me understand the magic of that and wish I’d had an experience quite like it.
This game has always been one of my favourites on the NES, and for the same reasons you discuss throughout. It truly feels like it’s in a different league than other games of the time, which makes it super memorable. (Monster Party and A Boy and His Blob also come to mind.)
I appreciate all your hard work in making this video. It’s always nice to hear engaging stories like these, proving games are a medium like no other.
There's definitely a class of games that are difficult to get into, unwieldy even at times, but if you have the patience to stick with you'll appreciate far more than game design conventions might say you should. I think most of us have clunky or unforgiving games that we played as kids that we love deeply even though they're "bad" or "outdated". We stuck with them, learned through trial and (repeated) error because we were young. We didn't know what was "good" or "bad", we were just happy to be playing something. Then we get older and wiser, but we lose some of that patience and wonder. I bet a ton of people woulda loved Startropics if they had it growing up, but wouldn't give it much time or energy as an adult. Heck, I only played it once on Switch Online and beat it, but with use of save states. I could see my appreciation for this title growing if I gave it another run every now and then. And there's plenty of others. I really want to love Super Metroid, but I haven't played it enough for the controls to really feel natural. It's for sure one of the best games of all time, but I haven't invested enough in it for it to be that level of quality to me. I love hearing about the weird games that people love, they're always way more interesting than the stuff that's built to be an 8/10 for literally everyone.
Thanks for the wonderful work for the last 10 years! Here to the next 10 being even better!
What a lovely and heart warming video. Can really feel the passion and love you have for this game just all over it.
I love the frantic google searching not knowing what the game was, because this was me with Harley's Humungous Adventure, a game I only rented once for SNES but remembered so distinctly.
For me that game was also the first video game I ever played and it’s shaped my taste in games to this day. It was Tales of Symphonia for the gamecube and all these years later it’s still my favorite game of all time.
Part of the fun of the video is watching the game, the other part is hearing you tell childhood stories with such enthusiasm.
13:57 Because none of the most liked comments seem to mention it, it's been said (dunno if officially or just been theorized) that the black filter was applied to VC games on Wii (and Wii U) as an anti-seizures thing due to these games being made before seizure concerns were taken seriously and thus several games had flashing screens and such.
I've watched this video a couple of times now. It's always so cool to see people sharing special games that mean so much to them, especially for a game as interesting as this one! Awesome video as always Nitro Rad! Thank you for sharing a game that means so much to you
StarTropics was a childhood favorite of mine and I also had to replay it in my adulthood in order to finally complete the game. I loved how there was no other game like it. The odd movement, the story pushing you ahead, the delightful music, the rpg elements... I even remember when Nintendo Power made a short comic about it!
It's so heartwarming to see someone talk about something with so nostalgia and passion.
You are pretty rad. Happy anniversary!
I loved this video through and through! You are my favorite TH-cam gamer!
I played this game with Nintendo Switch Online and got stuck at the graveyard dungeon. Now that you taught me about the controls and a few tricks about the game I'm stopping around 28:09 to see if I can beat it myself... Thanks a ton.
Same bro. My parents had an NES with Super Mario/Duck Hunt and the StarTropics games. I fell in love.
This quickly became my be Nitro Rad's favorite vídeo, so much love was put into it that it's transparent how he's happy with what he's doing 💜
Good to see that after he looked so down and worried in the last update video
I was 10 when StarTropics came out and also fondly remember it. I remember how accomplished I felt when I beat it. Brought me right back. Thank you!
LOVED this video!! I love how sentimental you are about this game, I adore hearing how special media like this can be to people.
Also the letter you have to put in water is actually the coolest thing. Blew my mind.
This is a super heartwarming video for me. I know exactly what my first game was, and it's Pokemon Yellow. I booted up my older brother's save in Lavender Town, and had the exact same reaction of "HEY, I can move a little guy with a cool hat!" But I never got anywhere with it. Even after I deleted his save and started over (he didn't care, he had already beaten it twice), I couldn't make it anywhere, but the first 3 towns are burned into my mind. Nowadays, it's hard to go back to because there's sequels and remakes that are just... better. The only instance where Gen 1 feels worth going back to is in competitive play, which I don't do much.
But StarTropics is so unique that it could never be replaced. There is no "better version" (I literally hadn't heard of the sequel until this video), and no one has attempted it again since, so it will always be important.
I popped off so hard when I saw the title screen and realizing it's the same as your intro! It all made sense, especially because I was confused when in a previous video, you mentioned being from Nova Scotia, where the whole "palm tree tropical beach" thing didn't seem common. IT ALL COMES TOGETHER. Here's to more Nitro Rad!
Excited to watch this one dude!!
I still remember 10 years ago when I randomly decided to search for videos about one of my favorite games of all time and seeing your video which was posted just 2 weeks prior. It was great to find someone who was seemingly as obsessed about the game as me so your channel just clicked with me almost immediately and I've loved your videos since. And it's lead me to find out about so many other platformers and horror games that I'm now a fan of.
Here's hoping for many more years of great quality videos like these that you seem to love making.
Edit: sonuvabitch i wrote this on april fools day on accident
i kinda never comment on youtube but after almost four years of not watching your channel ive become OBSESSED with your videos again. just the love and care you put into your videos and how passionately you talk about video games makes me appreciate games in general a lot more and just how cool they are. the way you go into detail for every game and how you speak with so much love for video games idk its just so cool